Salute Phot's (3) - Dewey's Pride and Joy!

Here she is, the USS Langley, America's first attempt at Carrier design, an escort class carrier she representrs America's first steps in evolving carrier borne support for the fleet. With a limited capacity of 1 Squadron of P24 Pursuit fighters she lacks punch. Lexington, Yorktown and Sarratoga are on the workbench, and i'm hoping to work on America's Super Carrier Enterprise over ther next few months which will give them a bomber capacity....

Anway here she is, Dewey's pride and joy, "The Flat top wagon" - USS Langley

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Front on and looking mean....any similarity to a certain graceful lady by the name of Galactica, is as they say....purely coincidental!!!

Here she is from above, colour scheme is based on a combination of the Great White Fleet colours, and authentic  Naval Air markings for the early 20's

Detail shot showing the aircraft, here I used Dom's Decals for the roundels and I carn't recomend them highly enougth, they are superb and really make the models as well as taking a lot of the hassle out of the painting.

Again side on shot of the aircraft....

For those interested in how it all went together, the core of the carrier is the Russian Aeronef Tender from Brigade Models used for the hull and the lower work deck, this is then built up with Plasticard, as are the tail fins. One of the Brigade Models Bombers was added from their generic range to indicate a an Observer plane capacity. Langley is an Escort Carrier class, small with a relativly limited range, she carries no Bombers at this time, being restricted to a single Pursuit Fighter Squadron.

The Introduction of the later Enterprise class will provide the Great White Fleet with airborne torpedo capacity, but that's for another day......

Anway back to the build, the upper Flight deck is made up of several layers of standard and embossed plasticard from 4D Models, with brass rod added to represent torpedo netting. The airbags are W H Smith Illumo markers painted up with some 1-48th scale US Early Pacific War roundels from Hannants model supplies, available over the internet. Side gun barbettes and funnels all bits and pices from the Brigade range. A tougth one to build but well worth it, i think, hope you enjoy, comments and suggestions always welcome.

Cheers Guys

Salute Photo's (2) - The Imperial Japanese Navy

Here are a few extra shots of the Japanese fleet to balance out the earlier US shots, yhis is the Mikasa Super Dreadnought, Admiral Togo's Flagship, yet to be rigged, but it represents state of the art Japanese Dreadnought design.

This shot shows the effect of rigging using thread cotton, as mentioned previously, i was really trying to emulate Rod Langton's amazing modeling when doing this and i think the effect adds to the ships.Rigging along the side is to represent torpedo nets, and again adds toi the overall feel of efficiency I wanted to convey with the Japanese models. Stripes along tail indicate class, 4= Battleship/ Dreadnought.

My own personal favourite amogst the Japanese models, the Light Cruisers, work horses of the fleet and the eyes and ears of the fleet. Searchlight just visable above the wheelhouse is a superdetailing extra from Waterline-models.com, an outstanding service supplying all sorts of bits and pieces that help to add a little extra to the models.Small boats are from the Revell QE2 kit, 20 boats at £5.00, again add as little extra something. 

Here we have a line astern shot of the Japanese Battle line as they bring the big guns to bear.....

Still more to add to this force, a couple more light Cruiser squadrons and then the Super Carriers Kaga and Akagi..

Salute Photo's



Here are the first of a series of photo's generously donated by Alan Daniels and Dominic Hutton, cheers guys, of the Salute Game, i'll be adding them to the blog over the next week, but hop-e you enjoy!

First up the rather Flash Gordonesque Zurich Class Dig Cruiser, far too sexy for the Swiss, so here it is in the colours of the US Pathfinder squadron. For those interested in such trivia the original designer of this craft was sequested from Switzerland by the long arm of thePBI ( Pinkerton Bureau of Investigations), provided with a new false identity as a slug juggeling artist in the Hollywood Hills under the name of Mr C Chaplin!, and set to work on the next generation of US nef.

Lethally fast these ships are armed with Samuel Colt's patented Torpedo revolver device and are the eyes of the Fleet.

This the elderly but much vaunted USS Maine, Flagship of the Picket Squadron commanded by Commodore Lewis Armistead II, representing as she does post ACW Nef design she hails from a bygone age, however  with her turret mounted 13 inch Armstrong muzzle loading Naval rifles she still packs a punch. Commanded by Armistead, a true patriot of the Southern Cause, with her band playing Dixie, she was last seen firing to the last amidst the Japanes naval line, the "stars and bars" still flying proudly from her mast, her crwe crying "One last time boys, for old Bobbie Lee!" ( This model still reqires rigging)

Supporting the USS Maine are the Michigan Light Cruisers, converted with extended stacks and boilers for long distance patrol, these are the predecessors of the Pathfinder Digs above, again due to their age, they did'nt stand up to the might of the newer Japanese classes of Nef.

Aagain many thanks to the talented photography of Alan and Dominic, hope the macro lens has'nt shown up too much of the dodgy paintwork The game is very much a work in progress as are these models, most of them require rigging to be fully completed.

I would like to take this opportunity to honour a true master of the art and "Godfather" of naval gaming in Rod Langton, having admired his models and craftsmanship for many years, his Napoleonic ships are things of wonder and he wasa major inspiration in this project, the aim being to "do a Langton" on the Pre Dread Nefs, so hats off to you sir and a big thanks!

What's in a Name?

First of all hello again and just to say the blog will be up and running from now on, with hopefully a full set of photo's of all the models used in the recent "Damn the Torpedo's " game at Salute this weekend as well as some how to do articles on superdetailing the models and making the scenery. A very big thanks to my fellow League of Gentlemen who made the trip down from Liverepool fore the event. Yes we were all sticking stands together at 3am on Saturday, but you have to love the smell of epoxy resin in the morning!;-)

A big thanks to John, Paul, Barry and Lenny, medals with clasp all round gentlemen, and large brandy's for all...

Salute was fantastic and we never anticipated such a huge postive response from everyone, Aeronef is a niche interest after all, however your comments and support were very much appreciated, although apologies if I came across somewhat hazy by midday, by then sleep deprivation was really kicking in! We are hoping to present the game and develop it further throughout the year, if you want to catch up and have a look you are more than welcome. Although we did'nt originally intend to present the game as a participation affair, in the end the interest amongst younger audience members was too great, and we were'nt going to say no!.

All the young Admirals performed brilliantly and put us to shame, particually the young gentleman who rolled six's to order and promptly sank everything in sight, before anouncing he was'nt having any more of this and was going to ram!!!!.....We salute you sir, Nelson would be proud.

A few people enquired to the  group's name and where it originates, Arbuthnot was a Naval Commander at the time of Jutland, something of an all rounder, he was renowned for his pugilistic skills, once taking on a trio of sailors when docked abroad, soundly administring a thrashing to all!!!, as well as being the only Navy Commander to date in the Royal Navy to succesfully complete three full turns on the paralell bars. Well known throughout the navy for his desire to have a crack at the Hun, he managed to loose his squadron in minutes at Jutland through his eagerness. All in all quite a character and "top" chap!, apart from loosing the ships that is.........

So now the mist has passed and have cought up with the sleep, Salute was a fantastic experience and we hope to make the game bigger and better throughout the Year, The dastardly Brits will hopefully be making a squadron strength show with a couple of battlecruisers....unfinished business from 1812 don't you know, and the gallent French in form of L' Escadrille La Fayette will be assisting their American cousins. Meanwhile the Japanese will be equally reinforced in the form of a trio of super carriers.....lots still to do

Cheers for now

Jon